Agriculture: Barley and Wheat

Lord Bilimoria: To ask Her Majesty's Government what impact they expect the drought to have on barley and wheat output in the United Kingdom.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: It is too early to determine what impact the drought may have on barley and wheat yields in the UK. The majority of the crops are well established with few serious or widespread problems identified. The recent rainfall has been beneficial and has provided sufficient moisture for nutrient uptake and crop growth, but it could increase the risk of certain diseases.
	Much of the impact will depend on the weather conditions between now and harvest. However, farmers are experienced at dealing with changes in weather and their impacts on the natural environment, and will continue to adapt to mitigate these as far as possible.

Charity Emblems

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government which, if any, constabularies and police authorities in the United Kingdom are instructing officers not to wear poppies or charity wristbands, including those for Help for Heroes.

Lord Henley: This information is not held centrally.

Drugs: Thalidomide

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are marking the 50th anniversary of the extent of the effect of the use of Thalidomide by pregnant women becoming clear; and what recent contacts they have had with the families of those affected.

Earl Howe: The Government expect to receive from the Thalidomide Trust the evaluation of the second year of the three-year pilot study funded by a departmental grant shortly, and will look to meet with the National Advisory Council to the Thalidomide Trust to discuss that report further.

Elections: Police and Crime Commissioners

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of conducting elections for police and crime commissioners due in November 2012; and what estimates they have made of the likely turnout.

Lord Henley: The estimated cost of police and crime commissioner elections in 2012 is £75 million. Due to the unprecedented nature of these elections we are unable to make estimates of the likely turnout.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 10 January (WA 22), whether they consider that patients were in a position to provide informed consent regarding the use of a germinal vesicle in research project R0122 when the patient information and consent forms for this project referred only to the use of embryos in research, not oocytes, and the latest progress report for research licence R0122 received by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in April 2004 stated that embryos were not created for research in this project.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 3 October 2011 (WA 105-6), what were the findings of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's inspection of the record sheets dated 23 September 2004 for eggs and embryos contributed to research at Centre 0017; how it was confirmed whether the second patient listed on those record sheets had declined the use of their eggs or embryos in projects covered by research licences R0122 and R0145; and what role was played by Dr Victoria Lamb in authorising the use of a germinal vesicle from this patient in research project R0122 on 27 September 2004.

Earl Howe: As I advised the noble Lord in my Written Answer of 28 November 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 10), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has no statutory obligation to regulate the use of eggs in research that does not involve the creation of embryos. The HFEA has advised that the progress report for research licence R0122, referred to by the noble Lord, documents the use of embryos and the proposed use of eggs.
	The HFEA has advised that it has nothing further to add to the information given in my Written Answer of 3 October 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 105). The HFEA has also advised that it does not hold information about the specific roles of individual members of staff at research centres in relation to research carried out on specific days.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 November 2011 (WA 222), whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's policy of not commenting on its relationship with any person responsible or nominal licensee would facilitate appropriate review of actions taken by any authority inspector who was previously a nominal licensee.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has nothing to add to the information given in my Written Answer of 22 November 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 222).

Energy: Green Deal

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the latest developments on the establishment of the oversight body for the Green Deal; when it will be in place; and what its functions will be.

Lord Marland: The Green Deal Registration and Oversight Body will perform a number of functions aimed at providing effective administration and oversight of the Green Deal. Functions will include:
	creating a register of all authorised Green Deal advisors, installers and providers;maintaining the Green Deal code of practice and controlling the use of the quality mark;ongoing monitoring of Green Deal participants against the code of practice;production of an annual Green Deal report; andgathering evidence of non-compliance and referring participants to the ombudsman or my right honourable friend the Secretary of State where appropriate and imposing sanctions when directed.
	A procurement process is currently under way and we expect to finalise the contract in June 2012 with the registers open in early August.

Energy: Wind Farms

Lord Donoughue: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 23 April (WA 318), to what extent the level of renewable obligation support for offshore and onshore windfarm developments is reduced at the end of the 23- and 24-year assured life of equipment where the revenue-raising working life of such equipment is extended; and what research has been done on forecasting levels of renewable obligation support in such circumstances.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the linkage between the level of renewable obligation support for offshore and onshore windfarm developments and the assured operating life of windfarm equipment.

Lord Marland: In setting the level of the renewables obligation (RO) support for different technologies, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is required to have regard to a number of factors according to the Electricity Act 1989, as amended by the Energy Act 2008.
	These factors include the costs and incomes of the renewable developments. In assessing what RO support is required for investments to go ahead, the costs and incomes of the developments are assessed over the full operating lifetime of the generating assets.
	RO support for new onshore and offshore wind generating capacity is limited to 20 years (subject to the 2037 end date of the RO). No additional RO support is currently available for the repowering of wind turbines at the end of their working life.

Gangmasters

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they are reducing the resources of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and considering "lighter touch regulation" in respect of gangmaster regulation and enforcement.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government are looking at how to target the Gangmasters Licensing Authority's (GLA) resources more effectively to ensure protection of the most vulnerable workers while reducing burdens on gangmasters who comply with the law. A range of options for simplifying the operation of the GLA are under consideration as part of the Government's Red Tape Challenge and final proposals will be announced in due course.

Health: Mesothelioma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the membership of the group which will review the payment of success fees to lawyers involved in cases of mesothelioma; whether any members of mesothelioma victims' organisations will be included; whether witnesses will be called to give evidence; what is the anticipated timetable for its deliberations; to whom it will report; and whether they will provide time in both Houses for its findings to be discussed.

Lord McNally: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 received Royal Assent on 1 May 2012. The Government have already announced that the provisions in Part 2 relating to civil litigation funding and costs will come into force in April 2013. However, the provisions in relation to Sections 44 and 46 (recoverable success fees and insurance premiums) will not come into effect in relation to mesothelioma claims until a review has been undertaken and published in accordance with Section 48. The review is not due to begin for some time. We will consider how best to conduct it in due course, bearing in mind the factors referred to by the noble Lord.

Health: Podiatry

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the provision of podiatry services within the National Health Service, in the light of current amputation rates.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the evidence regarding any link between the variation in amputation rates for those suffering from diabetes and the variation in staffing rates for National Health Service-employed podiatrists.

Earl Howe: While there are currently no plans to review the provision of podiatry services centrally, a companion document to the outcomes strategy for long-term conditions will look at the provision of services for people with diabetes.
	Foot complications of diabetes are preventable, and if identified early enough can be treated effectively. Reducing the number of amputations due to diabetes relies on good self-management of diabetes and good services to support people with diabetes.
	The National Diabetes Audit looked at the structure of services locally and National Health Service trusts, especially those with high amputation rates, should take action to view their own data and act on the results.

Houses of Parliament: Mobile Devices

Lord Tyler: To ask the Chairman of Committees what progress has been made since 2009-10 in delivering archived video coverage of parliamentary proceedings to mobile devices.

Lord Sewel: The Parliamentary Recording Unit is currently working with its video contractor on the introduction of live streaming to mobile devices, which will be available from October 2012. It is also developing options to extend access to archive video covering the past three years of House of Lords proceedings. Separate investigations are under way into options for the digitisation of audio and video tapes dating back to the 1970s, and for enabling this material to be delivered alongside current video output.

Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 1 May (WA 454), whether they have received applications for compensation in relation to other deaths in Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom or elsewhere that may have violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights since the cases of Jordan, McKerr, Kelly and Others, and Shanaghan in 2001; and, if so, in relation to which deaths; and what payments have been made.

Lord McNally: The Government do not collect information centrally about applications for compensation in relation to deaths in Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom or elsewhere that may have violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and it would not be possible to assemble a complete list of such cases, which could have been made to domestic courts or to the European Court of Human Rights and would include successful, unsuccessful and pending cases. The information requested is therefore not available

Immigration: Detention Centres

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what improvements have been made at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in response to recommendations following the HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection in May 2011.

Lord Henley: The Chief Inspector of Prisons' report of an unannounced inspection of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre was published in July 2011.
	The report contained a total of 40 recommendations; two main recommendations and 38 others. Twenty-seven recommendations were accepted and incorporated into a service improvement plan for the centre, a copy of which is available in the House Library. Action to implement all but seven of the recommendations has been completed.
	The main recommendations were in regard to lengthy detention when documentation could not be easily obtained, and paid work to occupy detainees.
	The UK has established redocumentation arrangements with a number of countries, aiding our ability to remove detainees more quickly. In addition, improvements have been made to the detention review process enabling officers, particularly those dealing with foreign national offenders, to more quickly identify documentation issues. The UK Border Agency continues to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to engage with embassies to ensure that the documentation process for the removal of their nationals is efficient.

Israel

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have provided or plan to provide any financial assistance or practical support to organisations and bodies tackling discrimination and inequality between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government condemn all instances of inequality and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith, ethnicity or nationality. Our embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate-general in Jerusalem, as elsewhere, monitor and raise concerns over human rights with host governments, including discrimination and freedom of religion or belief when appropriate.
	When possible our embassies and high commissions take action on individual cases where persecution or discrimination has occurred and lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws. We continue to raise freedom of religion or belief in bilateral and European Union human rights dialogues and we also work in the United Nations and with other international organisations to uphold universal standards.
	We have also supported projects aimed at tackling discrimination between Jews and Arabs in Israel. In 2011 the UK sponsored a £40,000 project for Israeli and Palestinian religious leaders to join a multi-sector leaders network that aims to advance peace in the region.

Israel

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of how the decision by the Government of Israel to classify as formal settlements the outposts of Bruchin, Rechanim and Sansana might impact on the viability of a two-state solution and the prospects for negotiating such a solution.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have made it consistently clear that Israel should be removing, not legalising, illegal outposts, in line with its road map commitments. On 24 April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) released a statement strongly condemning the Israeli Government's decision to legalise these three outposts in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary made it clear that this decision set a dangerous precedent for future outposts and risked sending the message that Israel was not serious about its commitment to the two-state solution. He called on Israel to rescind this decision.
	Our ambassador in Tel Aviv has also raised our concerns about this issue with Israeli officials.
	We have regular discussions with European partners with regards to the issues of Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 14 May, the European Union Foreign Affairs Council issued conclusions that expressed concern at the recent decision of the Government of Israel regarding the status of some outposts.

Israel

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made or intend to make to the Government of Israel regarding the decision to classify as formal settlements the outposts of Bruchin, Rechanim and Sansana.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have made it consistently clear that Israel should be removing-not legalising-illegal outposts, in line with its road map commitments. On 24 April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) released a statement strongly condemning the Israeli Government's decision to legalise these three outposts in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary made it clear that this decision set a dangerous precedent for future outposts and risked sending the message that Israel was not serious about its commitment to the two-state solution. He called on Israel to rescind this decision.
	Our ambassador in Tel Aviv has also raised our concerns about this issue with Israeli officials.
	We have regular discussions with European partners with regards to the issues of Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 14 May, the European Union Foreign Affairs Council issued conclusions that expressed concern at the recent decision of the Government of Israel regarding the status of some outposts.

Israel

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had or intend to have with their European Union partners regarding the government of Israel's decision to classify as formal settlements the outposts of Bruchin, Rechanim and Sansana.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have made it consistently clear that Israel should be removing, not legalising, illegal outposts in line with its Roadmap commitments. On 24 April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) released a statement strongly condemning the Israeli Government's decision to legalise these three outposts in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary made it clear that this decision set a dangerous precedent for future outposts and risked sending the message that Israel was not serious about its commitment to the two-state solution. He called on Israel to rescind this decision.
	Our ambassador in Tel Aviv has also raised our concerns about this issue with Israeli officials.
	We have regular discussions with European partners with regards to the issues of Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 14 May, the European Union Foreign Affairs Council issued conclusions that expressed concern at the recent decision of the Government of Israel regarding the status of some outposts.

Jordan and Egypt

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the connection between the Arab Spring and economic conditions, whether they have any programmes aimed at increasing employment in information and other high-technology developments in Jordan and Egypt, such as Oasis 500.

Lord Howell of Guildford: In 2011-12, the Arab Partnership Participation Fund (APPF) funded four projects in Jordan to support private sector development, specifically entrepreneurship, including in the IT sector. These included two projects by Oasis 500 to train IT entrepreneurs in Amman and Irbid, and provide them with opportunities to access finance. Through these projects, Oasis 500 trained 196 entrepreneurs in Amman, and invested in nine of them. In Irbid, 27 entrepreneurs received training and 20 completed the full course. Of the 14 Oasis 500 companies which pitched at angel investor events, 11 secured follow-on funding amounting to nearly $6 million. Oasis 500 also developed a mentor network of over 240 mentors. The APPF also supported projects by the Mowgli Foundation to support Jordanian entrepreneurs through mentoring; and a partnership between a local non-governmental organisation, Injaz, and Mosaic, to introduce an online tool to strengthen business skills and promote entrepreneurship in Jordanian schools.
	We did not fund any projects in this area in Egypt.
	The Arab Partnership Economic Facility is working with the international financial institutions to support job creation in the Middle East and north Africa region across a range of sectors. In Egypt and Jordan this includes support for a new World Bank Group facility to increase access to enterprise finance, and for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's technical assistance for private sector development.
	A full list of all APPF funded projects is available at: www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/mena/uk-arab-partnership/.

Pensions

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 30 April (WA 419), whether, in later negotiations with trades unions about the revaluation of the NHS Pension Scheme and Teachers Pension Scheme and the constraint within the overall cost limits set out in Cm 8214, they will take account of the use of the consumer prices index (CPI) plus 1.5% and plus 1.6% respectively if the difference between the CPI and the retail prices index is less than 1.5% and 1.6% and when there is no inflationary rise in the CPI.

Lord Sassoon: Discussions with trades unions for the NHS Pension Scheme and Teachers Pension Scheme have concluded and proposed final agreements can be found on departmental websites. The majority of unions have agreed to take these proposed final agreements to their executives as the outcome of negotiations and the Government will introduce legislation in this Session.
	The revaluations in the NHS Pension Scheme and Teachers Pension Scheme are linked only to the consumer prices index. The retail prices index is not being used for these purposes. Full details of the how the agreed revaluation rates will apply in practice, including where there is no inflationary rise in the consumer prices index, will be set out in due course in detailed proposals for the operation of the individual schemes and will be reflected in legislation.

Pigs

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what records are held relating to the incidence of (1) breeding sow deaths, (2) piglet stillbirths, (3) piglet malformations in live births, and (4) the use of antibiotics and other medications, in the United Kingdom pig farming industry.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), which conducts animal health surveillance on Defra's behalf, does not receive any routine data concerning breeding sow deaths, piglet stillbirths or piglet malformations in live births. However, pig producers and their private veterinary surgeons in England and Wales may choose to bring specific incidents to the attention of AHVLA, for example, for laboratory investigation into potential causes. Data from these voluntary submissions are recorded by AHVLA and monitored for any unexplained increase. Information is released through a quarterly report, accessible via AHVLA's website (eg http://vla.defra.gov.uk/reports/docs/ rep_survrep_qtlyp0311.pdf). In Scotland, the Scottish Agricultural College provides animal health surveillance and in Northern Ireland this is provided by the AgriFood and BioSciences Institute.
	There is a legal requirement under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (in England, Scotland and Wales) and under cross-compliance for farmers to inspect their pigs at least once every day to check that they are in a state of well-being. Records must be kept on the number of mortalities on each inspection and these records must be retained by the farmer for at least three years. AHVLA conducts audits in England, Scotland and Wales to check that the records are being maintained but the recorded data remain solely with the farmer, not AHVLA.
	Veterinary surgeons are required to maintain records for five years of the medicines they have supplied to the animals under their care. Veterinary pharmacists and agricultural merchants must also maintain similar records for the categories of medicines they are permitted to prescribe, which do not include antibiotics. Similarly farmers are required to maintain records of all veterinary medicines used in their animals. However, in the UK these data are not collected and held by the Government. Nevertheless, the consumption of veterinary antibiotics is reported by the amount of active ingredient sold by the veterinary medicinal product manufacturer for each of the classes of antibiotic and by animal group listed in the Marketing Authorisation of the veterinary medicinal product. These data are published retrospectively on an annual basis at: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/public/antimicrobial_pubs.aspx.

Police: Racism

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how their race integration policies, reflected in the Equality Strategy, the Social Mobility Strategy and Creating the conditions for integration, are contributing to the elimination of racism and the fair treatment of black and minority ethnic people by the police service in England and Wales, in particular by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Lord Henley: Equality and diversity are particularly important for the police service in England and Wales in the context of policing our diverse communities.
	The Government have set out three priority areas for the service to make improvements in equality and diversity:
	the police workforce-the workforce needs to be more representative of the communities it serves, especially at more senior ranks;communities-local democratic accountability will place new demands on the service to maintain good relationships with communities; and,crime-improving service to the public will mean forces should focus on crimes that have a disproportionate impact on minority communities.
	The Government will back the service to deliver the changes needed to make more rapid progress against these priorities.

Police: Racism

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements will be imposed on police and crime commissioners to eradicate racism from all aspects of the services for which they are responsible, and how they will be accountable for this.

Lord Henley: Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be subject to the public sector equality duty under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which will require them to have due regard, in exercising their functions, to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between races. PCCs will also be required, under Section 1(8)(g) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, to hold the chief constable to account, in particular, for the exercise of the chief constable's duties relating to equality and diversity. This will include the public sector equality duty mentioned above, which applies to chief constables as well as to PCCs. PCCs will be directly accountable to their electorate for the decisions they take. Their compliance with these equalities obligations will also be scrutinised by a police and crime panel containing members of the local authorities in the police area and co-opted independent members.

Questions from the Media

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 19 March (WA 146), whether there is any cross-departmental limit on the number of questions that members of the media may ask the Government each week.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: No cross-departmental limit applies to the number of questions that members of the media may ask the Government each week.
	Individual departments are responsible for answering questions from the media addressed to them.

Questions from the Media

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to operate a policy of refusing to answer some media questions on the grounds of disproportionate cost.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Individual departments are responsible for answering questions from the media addressed to them.
	Where a query is received in the form of a Freedom of Information request, Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act allows a department to refuse to deal with a request where it is estimated that it would exceed the appropriate cost limit.

Schools: Free Meals

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many and what proportion of 16- and 17-year olds in (1) sixth forms and (2) further education colleges, received free school meals in the most recent five years for which figures are available.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The information requested is shown in the table below. As 16 and 17 year-olds who study in sixth-form colleges and further education colleges are not eligible for free school meals the tables are based on students' free school meal status at age 15 which is available only for those young people who were in a state school. The answer includes both full-time and part-time students but excludes students whose FSM status at age 15 is unknown.
	
		
			 Percentage of 16 and 17 year-old students attending school sixth-forms known to be eligible for free school meals at age 15 
			  Number of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals at age 15 Number of students* Percentage of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals 
			 16-17 in 2006-07 25,700 352,700 7.3 
			 16-17 in 2007-08 26,900 364,000 7.4 
			 16-17 in 2008-09 27,600 375,400 7.4 
			 16-17 in 2009-10 29,800 390,800 7.6 
			 16-17 in 2010-11 31,900 396,500 8.0 
		
	
	* Only includes those with known FSM status at age 15
	Source: DfE Matched Administrative Data
	
		
			 Percentage of 16 and 17 year-old students attending sixth-form colleges known to be eligible for free school meals at age 15 
			  Number of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals at age 15 Number of students* Percentage of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals 
			 16-17 in 2006-07 11,900 119,200 10.0 
			 16-17 in 2007-08 11,900 122,800 9.7 
			 16-17 in 2008-09 12,100 127,500 9.5 
			 16-17 in 2009-10 12,800 131,500 9.7 
			 16-17 in 2010-11 13,800 132,900 10.4 
		
	
	* Only includes those with known FSM status at age 15
	Source: DfE Matched Administrative Data
	
		
			 Percentage of 16 and 17 year-old students attending further education colleges known to be eligible for free school meals at age 15 
			  Number of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals at age 15 Number of students* Percentage of students known to be eligible for Free School Meals 
			 16-17 in 2006-07 58,800 366,200 16.0 
			 16-17 in 2007-08 60,200 384,600 15.7 
			 16-17 in 2008-09 63,500 406,100 15.6 
			 16-17 in 2009-10 65,200 416,400 15.7 
			 16-17 in 2010-11 66,800 406,400 16.4 
		
	
	* Only includes those with known FSM status at age 15
	Source: DfE Matched Administrative Data
	The official estimates of participation in education by 16 and 17 year-olds by institution type can be found in table B7 of the Statistical First Release DfE: Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 Year Olds in England: http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001011/index.shtml.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether a campaign of genocide is being conducted by the government of Sudan against the people of South Kordofan; and what is their latest estimate of fatalities, injuries, displaced people, and health and food issues arising out of the bombings there.

Lord Howell of Guildford: A lack of independent access makes it difficult to assess accurately the situation in Southern Kordofan, but it is clear that the ongoing conflict, and in particular the completely unacceptable use of aerial bombardments by the Sudanese armed forces, is disproportionately affecting civilians, and that these tactics may constitute war crimes. We are also concerned with the forecast of severe food shortages in the coming months. The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that over half a million people are now displaced or severely affected from both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. We continue to press all parties to commit to a ceasefire that will allow humanitarian agencies access as soon as possible, and to establish a political process to resolve the conflicts as demanded in Security Council Resolution 2046.

Sudan and South Sudan

The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to assist in arresting the violence between Sudan and South Sudan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We were deeply concerned at the recent cross-border actions between both Sudan and South Sudan. We continue to encourage both Governments to fully comply with the road map that the African Union Peace and Security Council set out for restoring peace between Sudan and South Sudan in its communiqué of 24 April backed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (2046) of 2 May 2012.

Taxation

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to encourage British overseas territories and Crown dependencies to sign the multilateral convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters.

Lord Sassoon: The Government are encouraging British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to join the multilateral convention. Any decision on whether to join is a matter for them.

Universities: Conservation

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research has been undertaken to evaluate the impact on universities of the removal of the zero rate of VAT for alterations to protected buildings; and what assessment they have made of the increased cost of looking after the heritage of university listed buildings and ensuring that they are fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Baroness Wilcox: The department has not undertaken research to evaluate the impact on universities of the removal of the zero rate of VAT for alterations to protected buildings.
	Universities are responsible for a wide variety of buildings, including many that are listed, and so play a significant role in heritage conservation. The maintenance and operation of university buildings are a matter for individual universities which fund their infrastructure from operating surpluses, government grants, loans, property disposals and donations.